Tenant Rights Campaign Kickoff

Over the last three weeks, Justice United members and community allies have knocked on over 150 doors across four low income housing developments in Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro.

Canvassers have spoken to over 50 residents, and have left tenant rights information hanging on every door knob. Dozens of tenants have committed to attending community meetings with JU members and community allies to identify issues in their developments that can be solved through collective action.

Tenants across the county have extended great trust to our canvassing teams. At risk of retaliation, many have invited canvassers inside their units to show the conditions that they must live with everyday - mold, major appliances broken, pests, rotting carpets, backed up sewage. Canvassers heard the same telling statement in every development: “If I could live anywhere else, I would. But I can’t afford to.”

This fall Justice United will take action with low income tenants and community allies to address the immediate issues at every development. The relationships built in the course of these actions will help us build a broad based constituency capable of launching a major campaign for more affordable housing in Orange County - so that everyone in our county can afford to live in safe, decent housing.

Imagine a diverse group of churches and residents working in solidarity, across divides of race, class, and geography. It is already happening!

You’re invited to join this group at the next Countywide Leaders Meeting, to learn about the actions this fall, and how your church or institution can support the next leg of this organizing effort. Join us in Hillsborough on November 13, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at St. Matthews Episcopal Church (210 St Marys Rd, Hillsborough).